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The city of Oxnard will have eight marijuana dispensaries with possible locations in freeway adjacent retail zones and downtown if the City Council agrees with a committee recommendation.

On Tuesday, the housing and economic committee decided to recommend a retail marijuana ordinance that would allow eight dispensaries in areas that are at least 600 feet away from schools and parks.

The committee did not go with what a Planning Commission majority wanted — another 600-feet buffer from residential neighborhoods, which would have limited the number of parcels available for interested dispensaries.

The committee, which consists of Mayor Tim Flynn and council members Oscar Madrigal and Vianey Lopez, asked staff members to research the implications of establishing a 600-feet buffer for churches in addition to schools. Madrigal wanted to know what it would be like if the buffer for schools and parks were reduced to 500 feet.

The city of Oxnard inches closer to approving a retail marijuana ordinance that would allow up to eight dispensaries in the city.(Photo: Getty Images)

While the state standard is a 600-foot buffer between dispensaries and sensitive uses like schools, parks and youth centers, cities can set a smaller or larger buffer zone.

Madrigal said although it's a good point to consider churches as sensitive uses, placing too many zoning restrictions could make it impossible for dispensaries.

"If we did that, we would really be cutting this map up leaving next to nothing," Madrigal said about extending the buffer zone to churches. "The smaller the map gets, the harder it is for someone to purchase it. We might take people out of the business all together."

When factoring all the shopping centers and strip mall locations that are at least 600 feet away from schools, including those in downtown, there are about 800 parcels that could become dispensaries. If the city decides to add a buffer to residential neighborhoods, there would be fewer than 300 parcels that could become dispensaries.

When the Planning Commission considered the proposed ordinance over the summer, some members showed hesitancy.

"In reality, I don't believe in legalizing marijuana. There's a reason why the feds still don't legalize it," said Commissioner Wilfredo Chua. "But I'm living in the reality that this ordinance is probably going to pass. My intent here is to do everything to ensure this is as safe as possible."

The commission in August voted 4-3 on an ordinance that includes an additional residential buffer. Commissioners Jermey Meyer and Orlando Dozier were uncomfortable with the residential buffer and Commissioner Daniel Chavez Jr. was uncomfortable with the ordinance in general and feared an oversaturation of dispensaries.

During the council committee meeting this week, speakers shared their concerns with the proposed ordinance.

Louis DeLuca, a pastor at Gold Coast Christian Church, said houses of worship should be considered as a sensitive use considering the prevalence of youth ministries.

"Given the city sees it is inappropriate to house a dispensary next to a youth center, shouldn't it be also inappropriate to house a cannabis dispensary next to a church with an active youth program?" DeLuca asked.

Devon Wardlow, of the Santa Barbara-based Coastal Dispensary, told the committee that when the number of available properties is restricted, the bigger companies will win out.

"If you don't have access to capital in the high millions, it's very hard to compete when there's limited property if you're a smaller company," Wardlow said. "I think it's really important that you take the first step in ensuring there's actually property available for fair competition for all operators."

The city is working on drafting a social equity program that would set aside two of the eight dispensaries for local operators. The City Council is expected to consider the retail marijuana ordinance on Dec. 3.

Wendy Leung is a staff writer for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at wendy.leung@vcstar.com or 805-437-0339. You can also find her on Twitter @Leung__Wendy.